Mental health stigma refers to societal disapproval or when society places shame on people who live with a mental illness or seek help for emotional distress, such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, or PTSD.
A stigma is a negative and often unfair social attitude attached to a person or group, usually shaming them for a perceived deficiency or difference in their existence.
Individuals or groups can apply stigma to those who live a certain way, have certain cultural beliefs, make certain lifestyle choices, or to people living with health conditions, such as mental illnesses.
Stigmas can be difficult to dismantle and overcome once they become established over many years.
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The pressure of mental health stigma can come from family, friends, coworkers, and society on a broader level. Groups can also politicize stigma. It can prevent people living with mental illness from getting help, fitting into society, or leading happy, comfortable lives.
Stigma may not be obvious. It can come in the hurtful, offensive, or dismissive language people use to describe a mental health condition or people with mental illness. This can cause someone to feel alone and that no one understands what they are going through.
Mental health stigma can involve stereotypes, which are simplified or generalized beliefs or representations of entire groups of people that are often inaccurate, negative, and offensive.
For example, people may stereotype someone with depression as lazy or someone with anxiety as cowardly.
Stereotypes allow a person to make quick judgments about others based on a few defining characteristics, which they then apply to anyone in that group.
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However, people with mental health conditions are actually more likely to be victims of a crime.
Mental health stigma can affect anyone in any culture. However, the way it affects people may differ.
According to a 2024 study, more than 1 in 10 people worldwide ages 5 to 24 years have a mental health condition.
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Despite this high prevalence, mental health stigma may not look the same for every person. According to a 2023 review, various factors, including societal norms, individual values, and cultural differences, can affect mental health stigma.
For example, a culture that associates a lack of visible emotion with masculinity may negatively associate mental illness with femininity or vulnerability. The review suggests this could stigmatize men with mental health issues.
Similarly, cultures that value stoicism and emotional control may view mental illness as a shameful personal failure or weakness, preventing people from seeking help or admitting they have mental health issues.
Some religious beliefs may view mental illness as a form of divine intervention, which could also lead to delayed treatments.
Stigma against mental illness can come from several sources, such as personal, social, and family beliefs, and from the mental health condition itself, which may cause a person to act outside what is considered the social or cultural norm.
Various factors may contribute to mental health stigmatization, including:
- a lack of awareness or education about mental health
- cultural beliefs about mental health
- fear of people with mental illness
- media influences
- personal experiences
According to the Mental Health Foundation, nearly 9 in 10 people with a mental illness feel stigma and discrimination negatively impact their lives.
They also state that those with a mental health issue are among the least likely of any group with a long-term health condition or disability to find work, be in long-term relationships, live in good housing, and be socially included in mainstream society.
Stigma against a person living with a mental health condition can worsen their symptoms. A person may also be less likely to seek help if they live with stigma.
The effects of stigma can include:
- internalization of negative beliefs
- social isolation
- low self-esteem
- hopelessness
- shame
- avoiding treatment
- worsening symptoms
- lack of criminal justice
- discrimination at work
- unemployment
Public education to increase knowledge around mental illness is important, since stigma can come from a lack of understanding and misplaced fear.
It is important to review reliable sources of information on mental health conditions and become better informed when learning that a friend, family member, or co-worker has a mental illness.
If comfortable doing so, challenging mental health stigma is also important. This could involve calling out harmful language and providing a non-judgmental space for people to speak with you about mental health.
If someone experiences mental health stigma, the following steps may help them overcome it:
- reach out to trusted friends or loved ones for support
- join support groups to meet people in the same situation and share experiences
- speak with a healthcare professional about treatment options
- speak with a trusted contact at work to see what support is available
- practice positive self-talk
Advocacy groups
Someone with a mental health condition can be actively involved in their treatment. They can also consider getting an advocate if they feel that stigma impacts their ability to navigate day-to-day circumstances, such as employment, housing, or healthcare.
An advocate is a trained professional who supports the rights of others who may not have the strength or knowledge to do so on their own. They may help someone with employment disputes, medical appointments, financial claims, and housing problems.
Below are some examples of mental health advocacy groups:
A healthcare professional may also be able to support local support or advocacy groups that can offer you additional support in person.
Stigma is a complex issue that is well-documented but challenging to overcome. It can lead to social isolation and a decreased desire to get treatment.
However, people may be able to overcome it by finding an advocate to support them with work issues and financial matters. They can also educate others by sharing their stories to promote a wider understanding of mental health conditions.
Everyone has a role in diffusing mental health stigma. People should educate themselves about mental health issues and better comprehend what life is like for those living with these conditions.
Through education and understanding, we can eliminate the stigma around mental illness, and there is support available to people who are currently experiencing stigma.